Life's Trajectory

"Naruto, when did you learn the Three Basic Techniques? Can you tell me?"

Night had already fallen.

Under the streetlights of Konoha, Naruto's path was once again blocked by the suddenly appearing Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi. Hiruzen's face was stern now, devoid of his earlier kindness.

Because he had discovered that what had appeared in Naruto far exceeded his understanding.

Others might not know, but Hiruzen, who had always kept an eye on Naruto, knew very well that Naruto truly hadn't known any ninjutsu before this. He couldn't even refine chakra.

Could it be...

Had someone approached Naruto while he wasn't paying attention?

"They taught it during the first two semesters at the Ninja Academy!"

"Tell me the truth!"

"Hehe, so I still couldn't hide it from you."

Naruto chuckled awkwardly. He hadn't expected to conceal it from the Third Hokage, known as the Professor of Ninjutsu. Otherwise, he wouldn't have used ninjutsu so openly during the day.

If he was clearly getting stronger but had to keep it bottled up and not dare use it, what fundamental difference was there from not getting stronger at all?

So Naruto had already prepared an explanation for this.

In fact, the reason he had risked coming to the Uchiha Clan compound today, aside from acknowledging Mikoto Uchiha as his mother, was to deliberately make Hiruzen lose his composure and come find him.

Only if Hiruzen asked him would Naruto have a reasonable excuse to keep improving.

"That person taught me in my dreams while I was asleep."

Naruto pointed toward Hokage Rock. It was a good choice. As Hokage, it was perfectly normal for him to know all sorts of things, right?

Then, no matter what rewards Naruto drew in the future, he could pin them all on him.

Hiruzen followed his gaze and saw the statue of the Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze.

The Fourth Hokage!

Was it really you?

Hiruzen's heart tightened. It wasn't unheard of for a ninja skilled in sealing techniques to seal chakra containing consciousness into someone's body before death, allowing them to meet within their minds.

The Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze, had been a master of sealing techniques, so Hiruzen believed the Fourth could accomplish such a thing.

"Naruto, did he say anything to you?"

Naruto scratched his head, recalling memories that didn't exist before saying,

"He said he was sorry."

Hearing that, Hiruzen's lips trembled slightly. He reached out and stroked Naruto's head.

"The one who should apologize to you is me, not him."

I'm sorry, Minato. What Naruto went through truly was too cruel for a child.

But it was necessary.

The Nine-Tails Jinchūriki was an extremely important trump card for the village. I had to handle him cautiously.

You can understand that, can't you?

"Did he say anything else?"

"No."

Naruto shook his head.

His words made Hiruzen feel somewhat better. Since Naruto said no, it meant the Fourth Hokage didn't blame him for it.

However...

Had the Fourth really sealed chakra inside Naruto?

Hiruzen's gaze sharpened as he asked again, "Did he also tell you to come to the Uchiha compound?"

"No."

Naruto slapped Hiruzen's hand away.

Then he complained, "You old geezer, why do you have so many questions? I can go wherever I want. Do I need anyone's permission?"

Exactly!

Hiruzen let out a sigh of relief.

If Naruto's attitude had been too good, it would instead have given him the illusion that someone was deliberately teaching him.

It seemed he had been too cautious. Naruto had been watched by ANBU since childhood, and Hiruzen himself checked on him from time to time. How could anyone possibly approach Naruto under those circumstances?

"Haha, kid, show some respect for the elderly!"

"Go away, go away. I'm done talking to you. I need to get home early, or Mom Yugao will worry."

Naruto went around Hiruzen and jogged toward his apartment.

After Naruto's figure had completely vanished, two figures slowly emerged from the darkness.

One of them was wrapped in bandages from head to toe and leaned on a cane.

"Hiruzen, hand the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki over to Root for training. I can guarantee that he will be completely obedient in the future."

"What are you dreaming about?" Hiruzen stared at Danzo and said calmly, "I will handle Naruto's affairs myself. You are absolutely forbidden from interfering!"

"Hiruzen, you're too soft-hearted. The village's weapons don't need emotions."

Shimura Danzō snorted. "For the village's safety, handing the Jinchūriki over to me is the best choice."

"Enough, Danzo. I am the Hokage!"

Hiruzen narrowed his eyes slightly. "What right do you have to lecture me? Every resident of Konoha rests on my shoulders. You're not qualified to speak of the village's safety."

"You!!!"

Shimura Danzō was angered and couldn't help saying,

"Hiruzen, you'll regret this!"

With that, Danzo turned and left in a fury.

Watching Danzo leave, Hiruzen turned to the other person and said,

"Itachi, Yugao's strength alone may not be enough. If Naruto comes to the Uchiha compound again in the future, keep watch over his safety at all times. Don't let the Uchiha do anything crazy."

"Understood!"

Itachi Uchiha bowed, and Hiruzen nodded.

Although he came from the Uchiha Clan, Hiruzen had great faith in Itachi Uchiha's loyalty.

Still, he needed to bring Tsunade back as soon as possible. With her watching over Naruto, he could rest easier.

The night grew deeper.

Naruto reviewed his conversation with Hiruzen in his mind. He wondered whether Hiruzen and the greatest villain in Konoha, Shimura Danzō, would start arguing if Danzo were beside Hiruzen right now.

Would they create a famous scene like the ones in so many fanfics Naruto had read in his previous life—something along the lines of, "I'm Hokage, you'll regret it"?

The more he thought about it, the more Naruto couldn't help laughing.

Then, imitating a comment that might appear in a fanfic's comment section, he murmured,

"Naruto, just how far can those eyes of yours see?"

Alright!

No more thinking about that kind of entertainment. It was time to get down to business.

Yugao definitely knew that he had acknowledged another mother today. Naruto didn't know whether she would have any thoughts about it, but he needed to make his attitude clear first.

So, when he passed the Yamanaka flower shop, he casually picked several flowers from the flowerbed outside, intending to give them to Uzuki Yugao later.

This wasn't ingratiating himself with her.

It was to make Uzuki Yugao realize that Naruto wasn't the problem. He still treated her very well.

So...

The problem lay with Uzuki Yugao herself. As an adult, she had made a child quietly go and acknowledge another mother.

Was she not good enough? Had she failed too badly as a mother?

"Mom Yugao, I'm back!"

After returning to the small apartment where they lived, Naruto knocked on Uzuki Yugao's bedroom door. Hearing the rustling sounds from inside, he made a few guesses.

Could Mom Yugao be lonely, in her bedroom...

Nonsense!

She had probably just returned from following him and was changing clothes.

Seeing that, Naruto stopped fooling around. He placed the flowers outside Uzuki Yugao's door, left a note, and returned to his room to rest.

Then he opened the system.

Lottery draw!

With a thought, the great lottery wheel appeared out of thin air before him. Then it began spinning and stopped several seconds later.

[Congratulations, Host. You have received an A-rank reward: "Lightning and Fire Dual-Attribute Chakra Nature Transformation."]

[Guaranteed reward reset. It will take another 100 draws before the next guaranteed A-rank or higher reward.]

[Current remaining Mom Coins: 13.]

Holy crap!

The memories of training Lightning and Fire chakra nature transformations suddenly flooding into his mind left Naruto stunned for quite a while. How many draws had it been? He had already triggered the guaranteed reward.

He had thought it would be like the gacha games from his previous life, where the guarantee was just there for show. If it said one hundred draws, then you had to make all one hundred draws.

It seemed the system had far more conscience than those greedy game companies.

Since that was the case, he definitely shouldn't hoard them.

System, continue drawing.

[Congratulations, Host. You have received a C-rank reward: "Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu!"]

[99 draws remain until the guaranteed reward.]

[Current remaining Mom Coins: 3.]

Elsewhere.

When Uzuki Yugao opened her door and saw the flowers and note on the floor, she fell into prolonged silence.

(Mom Yugao, sorry, I came home late today.)

(On my way back, I saw some very beautiful flowers. The flowers are beautiful, and Mom Yugao is beautiful too, so I decided to pick them and give them to Mom Yugao.)

(I know Mom Yugao probably doesn't want me to disturb her, so I'll quietly leave them outside the door.)

(Good night, Mom!)

After reading those words, Uzuki Yugao remained silent for a long time. She felt that she truly was terribly unqualified.

She had clearly been assigned to take care of Naruto, yet time and again, she had made Naruto cautiously try to please her.

Who was taking care of whom, exactly?

With a sigh, Uzuki Yugao put away the flowers Naruto had given her, feeling somewhat guilty.

Hayate had come to see her today and wanted to invite her out for coffee. Uzuki Yugao had originally been considering whether to accept.

Now, it seemed better to forget it...

She should finish the mission first!

[Ding!]

[An unexpected situation has occurred!]

[The original important life trajectory of B-rank mother "Uzuki Yugao" has been altered.]

[You have received an additional 50 Mom Coins!]